"The club scene has to be catered for in a more meaningful way than it is right now"

Brian Cody is acutely aware of the sense of disillusionment that exists at club level across the country.

In an interview in today’s Sunday Independent, the 11-time All-Ireland winning boss – who was recently ratified for a 21st season in charge of the Cats – warned that the GAA has a major problem on its hands and must act now to address the ever growing divide between the inter-county and club scenes.

“I’ve been involved in the inter-county scene for a long time and it’s hugely important. It is the showpiece. But the club scene has to be catered for in a more meaningful way than it is right now.”

He continued: “There has to be a solution, from people coming together, sitting down with a blank canvas and getting a proper, meaningful timetable where it’s inclusive for all GAA members.

“Everything is hard until you sit down and do it. It’s challenging, of course it’s challenging for everybody.

“I saw where Tommy Walsh said something a while back, that in 10 years’ time you won’t have hurling, you’ll have elite hurling. All the former players, the fellas who played for Kilkenny and gave great service, you talk to them now and they’re just sick. They said it’s so wrong what’s going on. They can see it.”